The sounds of the Ice Harbor Dam Lock marked both the beginning of our day and the end of our expedition’s time on the Columbia. Early in the morning, we turned onto the Snake River, the largest tributary of the Columbia and a vital vein in eastern Washington’s economy and ecology. We were able to get a closer look into the river’s economic impact by taking expedition landing craft tours through the lock of the Lower Monumental Dam, the second of four that we will pass through. The one hundred foot elevation gain demonstrated to us the ways in which technology has tamed the forces of the river and allowed for trade on its waters. For a glimpse of the ecological, we later cruised to the Snake’s smaller tributary, the Palouse River. Expedition landing craft tours, kayaking expeditions, and trips to Palouse Falls provided us with views of isolated canyons of columnar basalt, sparse vegetation of the high desert, and the golden eagles, coots, and pheasants that call the river home.
4/27/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Astoria, Oregon
We reached the penultimate day of our journey in Astoria, Oregon, where the Columbia River collides with the open ocean. We were met with a typical Pacific Northwest day of gentle rains punctuated by moments of sunshine. The guests were divided to conquer this gem of a city, nestled under bridges; half headed across the river to Washington to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment, while the other half visited the Columbia River Maritime Museum and Astoria Column. The museum and the interpretive center are both excellent examples of what the west coast can offer with regard to history and culture. Each has thoughtful exhibits that cover broad swaths of topics, and are staffed with informative and helpful faculty. After a hearty lunch on board, the groups swapped in order to have the best of both worlds. Finally, all met back aboard for the week’s final recap and guest slideshow.
